Tracking Gmail and Skype activity

[Thurnie]

no matter what you do or how you perform... people will always talk about you...
If you`re that sensitive then you shouldn't be employing people.. nor should you be interacting with others...

If it affects their work negatively, then sure i say - block it... but if you doing it because you expect them to behave like children and you want to be their father, then its best to rather let your paranoia go and start becoming mature and realistic of how people will act and react... probably with good cause if you seeking tips on how to spy on your workers...

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Exactly, and then you can take action and give them a warning or whatever. But does your policy say that you can monitor private email? Just because they're breaking the rules, doesn't mean you can do it too.

He doesn't necessarily have to, but he can monitor the sites visited.

 

[Roger.Wilco]

He doesn't necessarily have to, but he can monitor the sites visited.

*sigh* It's like I'm talking to myself here.

The issue isn't monitoring internet activity, or even monitoring work email. It's monitoring and viewing private information of employees.

 

[The_Unbeliever]

*sigh* It's like I'm talking to myself here.

The issue isn't monitoring internet activity, or even monitoring work email. It's monitoring and viewing private information of employees.

Then people have to stop using the company's email for private purposes, and company PC's to store private information.

Finish en klaar.

 

[Roger.Wilco]

Then people have to stop using the company's email for private purposes, and company PC's to store private information.

Finish en klaar.

But they're not using the companies email for private purposes, they're using Gmail. Am I the only one actually reading this thread???

 

[The_Unbeliever]

How is Gmail usually accessed/ Via ADSL lines. Who pays for those lines? The company.

So therefore the company also have a right to monitor what their employees are doing.

Fair usage of gmail (and others) will be tolerated (like emailing a joke or two to friends and family) but abuse of gmail (uploading emailing dozens of attachments to other people) will get you in hot water.

They don't need to monitor the exact messages, they can monitor it by bandwidth use. And, if they do suspect data breach, they have the fullest right to examine the employee's gmail accounts since these was used on company computers with company bandwidth.

BUT - if I have a private gmail account which I only access from home, with my own ADSL line, and my company want to have a look at my inbox, I'll tell them to sod off.

 

[ChilliGirl]

But they're not using the companies email for private purposes, they're using Gmail. Am I the only one actually reading this thread???

if it's possible to monitor it then yes If it's being done on company property. Remember a company is normally networked to a server, this gives beter monitoring capabilities than just a router...

 

[ChilliGirl]

How is Gmail usually accessed/ Via ADSL lines. Who pays for those lines? The company.

So therefore the company also have a right to monitor what their employees are doing.

Fair usage of gmail (and others) will be tolerated (like emailing a joke or two to friends and family) but abuse of gmail (uploading emailing dozens of attachments to other people) will get you in hot water.

They don't need to monitor the exact messages, they can monitor it by bandwidth use. And, if they do suspect data breach, they have the fullest right to examine the employee's gmail accounts since these was used on company computers with company bandwidth.

BUT - if I have a private gmail account which I only access from home, with my own ADSL line, and my company want to have a look at my inbox, I'll tell them to sod off.

LOL I should have paged over

Yes, so people can't & dont have much leg to stand on if they use non-private equipment

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

*sigh* It's like I'm talking to myself here.

The issue isn't monitoring internet activity, or even monitoring work email. It's monitoring and viewing private information of employees.

You're missing the point of what I'm saying - he may not monitor their private email, but he can monitor the sites visited (for eg. gmail) and have them blocked.

 

[The_Unbeliever]

You're missing the point of what I'm saying - he may not monitor their private email, but he can monitor the sites visited (for eg. gmail) and have them blocked.

Ditto. Well said.

Or I can use Dansguardian to monitor sites visited, and block on content. So, for example, a page with porn words in will be blocked far more often than a normal News24 page.

Or I can use URL Filter to check on the URL entered, and block/grant access based on that.

No need for a smart sysadmin to keep on running after his users.

 

[Roger.Wilco]

if it's possible to monitor it then yes If it's being done on company property. Remember a company is normally networked to a server, this gives beter monitoring capabilities than just a router...

I don't want to be rude, but I don't think you understand exactly how this works. It's easy and acceptable to monitor internet activity and work email. It's not so easy, and also not acceptable to monitor private emails like Gmail. The reason why I say it's not so easy, is that you can't just use their internet browsing history on the server to read the actual emails. You can however see that they've been on Gmail. You'll have to use something like a keylogger, or monitor their actual screens while they're working. Both are generally not acceptable, because it also gives you access to ALL other private details. If they use the pc for online banking, you see all their account details, logins, balances etc. This can get a company in big trouble.

This is where the IT policy comes in. If you want to monitor like this, you have to specify exactly what you're monitoring. Just saying that you monitor emails and internet activity is not enough. If you want to be ignorant and say it's company property so you can do what you want, be prepared, cause you'll get in big trouble.

I agree 100% with The_Librarian. A smart sysadmin doesn't run after his users or spy on them. If you don't want them to do something, block it. If you don't know how to do it, you're not supposed to be a system admin.

 

[ChilliGirl]

I don't want to be rude, but I don't think you understand exactly how this works. It's easy and acceptable to monitor internet activity and work email. It's not so easy, and also not acceptable to monitor private emails like Gmail. The reason why I say it's not so easy, is that you can't just use their internet browsing history on the server to read the actual emails. You can however see that they've been on Gmail. You'll have to use something like a keylogger, or monitor their actual screens while they're working. Both are generally not acceptable, because it also gives you access to ALL other private details. If they use the pc for online banking, you see all their account details, logins, balances etc. This can get a company in big trouble.

This is where the IT policy comes in. If you want to monitor like this, you have to specify exactly what you're monitoring. Just saying that you monitor emails and internet activity is not enough. If you want to be ignorant and say it's company property so you can do what you want, be prepared, cause you'll get in big trouble.

I agree 100% with The_Librarian. A smart sysadmin doesn't run after his users or spy on them. If you don't want them to do something, block it. If you don't know how to do it, you're not supposed to be a system admin.

If you read my earlier post you will see that by mail I was refering to email that downloads to your PC...... this is not gmail, unless the person has set their account up on the PC for ease of use rather than login to online gmail all the time. I agree keylogging is a no-no. So no online gmail cant be read.... but if it's on a pc yes it can as only company property should be on there....

The hardware belongs to the company, therefore it is their property...... or are they not allowed access to their own property at all times?
Yes I to agree with The_Lib on using rather hardware/software resources than people power to monitor people & their activities.

 

[Roger.Wilco]

The hardware belongs to the company, therefore it is their property...... or are they not allowed access to their own property at all times?

The building belongs to the company, therefore they can install camera's in the bathrooms to monitor you..... or are they not allowed access to their own property at all times?

 

[ChilliGirl]

The building belongs to the company, therefore they can install camera's in the bathrooms to monitor you..... or are they not allowed access to their own property at all times?

LOL actually they have the right to, just not allowed in the cubicles......

 

[Roger.Wilco]

LOL actually they have the right to, just not allowed in the cubicles......

That's like saying they're allowed to monitor activity on pc, just not certain things?

 

[ChilliGirl]

That's like saying they're allowed to monitor activity on pc, just not certain things?

they may not record your passwords, but they may view data physically stored on the pc,

skype's data is readable without passwords ...

 

[Dan C]

they may not record your passwords, but they may view data physically stored on the pc,

skype's data is readable without passwords ...

not if you use portable skype on your flash drive... hehehe